Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy

As all of us pet parents know, giving your pet medications is not always easy.

As smart as they are, the little critters know when something just doesn’t taste good. If a pet medication is not prepared in a “pet friendly” flavor or form, it is definitely a struggle to get them to take it.

How a Compounding Pharmacy Can Help Your Pet Take Its Medication

A veterinary compounding pharmacy can help by altering your pet medicine so that it is easier to administer, including making it taste better. By seeking help from a pet health pharmacy, an owner can rest easy knowing that administering yucky medicine to a stubborn or unhappy pet doesn’t have to be a grueling process every time.

Pets and animals of all kind can benefit from compounded pet medication. These include, but are not limited to:

Dogs

Cats

Birds

Horses

Rabbits

Reptiles

Zoo or aquarium animals

And more!

Please note: Compounded medications from a compounding pharmacy are not intended for use in food and food-producing animals. All veterinary medications require a prescription from your veterinarian.

Contact us today to see what the options are for your pet medications.

Frequently Asked Questions on Compounded Pet Medications

With the wide variety of animals that people keep in their households, our pet pharmacy hears an equally wide variety of questions about compounded pet meds. Below, we answer several of the most frequently asked questions. Just click on any question of interest to see our response:

What flavors can a compounding veterinary pharmacy create for pet medication?

These are just a few examples of the different types of flavors that our veterinary compounding pharmacy can create:

Tuna or liver for cats

Beef, chicken or “dog-safe” chocolate for your pup

Banana and other fruity flavors for birds

Owners tell us their pets are so clever they usually run away the minute they hear the sound of the refrigerator opening where the medication is stored! However, after using our veterinary compounding pharmacy services, in many cases, these same owners tell us their pets now come running when the refrigerator door opens, because they love their medicine.

Other than orally, what are other ways to administer pet medication?

If your furry friend simply cannot take any medications by mouth, we can prepare pet medication in a form where the animal does not have to swallow at all.

Transdermal delivery of medication allows owners to administer medications noninvasively. A measured amount (usually 0.1 ml, about half the size of a pea) of a specially prepared gel is applied to a hairless area inside the tip of the ear.

The special gel allows the drug to be absorbed through the skin. This procedure is painless, tasteless and simple. Your pet may not even know he or she is getting a medication. This can lead to better patient compliance and less owner frustration.

How can a compounding veterinary pharmacy adjust dosage size of pet medication?

A common issue is that commercial pet medications may be available in only one size or strength. For example, one tablet may be too large to give to a cat, but a large dog may need several tablets to ensure the correct dose. The Compounding Pharmacy of America can create a medication that contains the most appropriate dose required for each animal.

What happens if my pet needs medication that is not typically manufactured by drug companies?

Often, an animal will need a medication that is not typically manufactured by drug companies. Perhaps a veterinary formulation is unavailable, and, for one reason or another, the human preparation just won’t do.

Our veterinary compounding pharmacy can obtain the necessary pharmaceutical-grade materials and use them to compound individualized dosage forms based on your pet’s needs.

In some cases, a veterinarian will have their own compounding facility and can take care of the process for you. This is true in certain states. Otherwise, your vet can write the pet prescription and then refer you to a compounding pharmacy.

Is it possible to get compounded pet medication for my pet without a prescription?

No. A lawful veterinary compounding pharmacy is only allowed to give out medication according to a veterinarian’s prescription. If you want to get compounded pet medication, please discuss obtaining a prescription with your pet’s veterinarian.

Can I take my pet’s prescribed compounded medication and administer it to another pet I own?

Never, in any circumstance, administer one pet’s medication to another. The only exception would be if your veterinarian has explicitly directed you to do so.

Compounded medications are custom-tailored to your pet’s needs, and administering it to another pet could be harmful, even if they are the same species. Likewise, pet medications are not created for humans.

If you find yourself needing compounded medication for another pet, please consult your veterinarian’s office to discuss that pet’s needs.

How to Get Compounded Pet Meds

Our compounding pharmacists are standing by to concoct a pet medication that you can administer easily and that will ease his or her condition. Talk to a veterinarian about your pet’s ailment, get a written prescription and then contact us if we can customize the medication in any way to your pet’s needs and preferences.

If you have any questions about pet medications in the meantime, fill out our online contact form to get expert advice from a licensed compounding pharmacist.